Sec. 555.152. CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LIABILITY. (a) It is a defense to prosecution under Section 16.02, Penal Code, or any other statute of this state under which it is an offense to intercept a communication or disclose or use an intercepted communication, that the communication was intercepted by an electronic monitoring device placed in a resident's room.
(b) This subchapter does not affect whether a person may be held to be civilly liable under other law in connection with placing an electronic monitoring device in a resident's room or in connection with using or disclosing a tape or recording made by the device except:
(1) as specifically provided by this subchapter; or
(2) to the extent that liability is affected by:
(A) a consent or waiver signed under this subchapter; or
(B) the fact that authorized electronic monitoring is required to be conducted with notice to persons who enter a resident's room.
(c) A communication or other sound acquired by an audio electronic monitoring device installed under the provisions of this subchapter concerning authorized electronic monitoring is not considered to be:
(1) an oral communication as defined by Article 18A.001, Code of Criminal Procedure; or
(2) a communication as defined by Section 123.001, Civil Practice and Remedies Code.
Added by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 184 (S.B. 33), Sec. 2, eff. May 25, 2013.
Amended by:
Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1058 (H.B. 2931), Sec. 3.15, eff. January 1, 2019.
Structure Texas Statutes
Title 7 - Mental Health and Intellectual Disability
Chapter 555 - State Supported Living Centers
Subchapter E. Electronic Monitoring of Resident's Room
Section 555.152. Criminal and Civil Liability
Section 555.153. Covert Use of Electronic Monitoring Device; Liability of Department or Center
Section 555.154. Required Form on Admission
Section 555.155. Authorized Electronic Monitoring: Who May Request
Section 555.157. Authorized Electronic Monitoring: General Provisions
Section 555.158. Reporting Abuse, Neglect, or Exploitation
Section 555.159. Use of Tape or Recording by Agency or Court